A Hike above Lake Walensee from Amden to Ziegelbrücke

Sunday March 5, 2023 -- We knew the country would be covered in fog on Sunday, but it was supposed to clear in the afternoon, so we chose to do a hike in the mountains near Lake Walensee in Eastern Switzerland, because it only takes us 90 minutes to get there. That way we wouldn't waste hours on the road for nothing if the fog didn't clear.

We picked well this time, as the fog was just lifting as we got to Amden, and even though the air didn't totally clear this day (unfortunately very little in terms of views across Lake Walensee and into the Linth Valley, which would have been spectacular), we did have four hours of sunshine for our hike along the mountain and down to Ziegelbrücke.

We started at 12:20, which is a bit late for us, but the timing was perfect to be able to catch a train back home four hours later and still be home by 6 p.m.

The hike was wonderful, with so much variety including a narrow descent along a massive vertical cliff, across various farms and pastures and dry forest trails. I was most excited to see the start of the coloring of the forest floor: Loads of first flowers, especially blue ones!

As a side note: We did a similar hike in November 2019 from Amden to Weesen on the lake (a more direct route) with much better visibility. This is what the view is supposed to be: SEE HERE.

From the train station in Ziegelbrücke, a bus takes you up the mountain to Amden (at the arrow). This is what it looked like on our way there at 12:10

From the front seat of the bus, I could see the peak where we would be hiking, there along the red line beneath the cliffs

Again, about 10 kms (our usual distance) and about 3-1/4 hours from Amden to Ziegelbrücke.

Just starting off up the road, here's a cute yard decoration we saw

Looking behind us to the town of Amden. The fog has definitely lifted since we saw the webcam photo 90 minutes earlier (see end of album below).

A hillside of cute barns

Once in a while, farm cats come join us for some attention!

From here on in we had some nice mountain trails. Below on the right is Lake Walensee, not yet visible. 

Here at Schafbett is a look-out point, and the start of the interesting descent past the cliff wall. The sign warns that the trail is dangerous or impassible after heavy rains. Since we haven't had rain for ages, it's not an issue. 

The view down to the town of Weesen on Lake Walensee, from the Schafbett look-out point.

Up ahead is a massive cliff. We first have to descend a long flight of stairs before getting to the cliff wall. 

Descending the steps, always fun!

VIDEO:

Walking down the steps and along the cliff.

This looks more dangerous than it really was. There are cables to hold on to where it is narrow. 

Coming down the steps along the cliff wall

A look down the couloir

I'm not sure why they put a bench here. The rocks and dust are constantly falling from the overhanging cliff and make the bench dirty!

A long downhill section where a piece of the mountain has slid off

So happy to see a splash of colour in the otherwise barren and brown landscape

These lovely first flowers are called Coltsfoot, and are apparently used in herbal remedies for respiratory infections

Crossing all kinds of bridges!

More bridges. This time over a creek called Flibach

The river coming down the mountain.

The trail was a "Geo-Trail" of sorts, with all kinds of information along the way about the geology. For example on the right, a granite stone brought here by a glacier from some other part of Switzerland far far away (Albula). 

(Gufler). We cheated here and scrambled up a steep 20m section in the forest to avoid an extra 30m climb via the trail. 

A look up to the tower and where we passed by the cliff below it.

A lovely log house along the road with solar panels (more and more houses, especially new ones, have solar panels).

Above the Brändliberg Farm and Mountain Restaurant (closed for the season), we stopped for a coffee break at 14:30

Finally, a glimpse of the mountains on the south side of Lake Walensee

There seems to be a flying machine above the peak of that mountain....

There is a carving of a chamois on that tree trunk....

We passed a few farms along the way

These girls are also enjoying the lovely afternoon

A nice collection of cow bells and old tools

And now finally the best look down the lake which we had this day

Heading down the hill, looking directly eastward down the lake. On the left, at the top, is where we started our hike. At the house below, we headed in the opposite direction. 

Yaks as well

A selection of the earliest forest and garden flowers

This should be a superb view down the Linth Valley with high steep mountains. A real shame that we didn't have a better view. The Linth Canal below is the Canton border. On this side where we are is Canton St.Gallen, and on the far side is Canton Glarus. 

Another farmhouse, a rundown one this time

Winding our way down the hill. There was an icy wind blowing at this point.

Last stretch to the train station in Ziegelbrücke. The Linth Canal, which is the border of the two cantons, is just on the far side of the train tracks. In other words, the train station is in Canton St.Gallen, and the town is in Canton Glarus!

Crossing on the bridge over the train station in Ziegelbrücke

The hike we did starting in Amden, ending in Ziegelbrücke. The other lines are other hikes in previous years. 

Location of Lake Walensee in Switzerland

This is what the webcam in Amden was showing at 10:30 in the morning as we were getting ready to leave our place. We were hoping this was the fog receding... and in fact it was. We got here at 12:20 und could see the mountain, although misty. 

LATER:  Here is the same shot a week later:

AND what it looks like on a very nice day in March:

The Churches of Biasca and the Via Crucis (Way of the Cross)

Saturday March 4, 2023... PART II -- After our two-hour walk in the Blenio Valley from Dongio to Semione (see photos HERE), we took the bus to Biasca to walk up to the Roman bridge behind the train station, a bridge under which the river splits into a double waterfall. We see this waterfall every time we travel this stretch when we head to the southern Ticino (which is very often) and we have long wanted to walk up there. 

Usually in the early morning, this side of the mountain is in shadow, so as we got to Biasca at 3 p.m., we had just the right amount of afternoon sunshine to do the one-hour tour to the bridge and back, and along the way to visit two prominent church buildings which are also visible from the railway line. 

The nearest of the two buildings, San Carlo, is an unusual octagonal structure (construction started in the 1890's as a second church more accessible to the public than the magnificent Romanesque structure further up the hill, but never actually completed), whose interior I didn't like at all.

The majestic Romanesque Church (12th/13th Century) of Saint Peter and Paul on the other hand, is one of the most magnificent church buildings I have visited. There were no benches or pews inside the church, just a large stone interior with a mosaic ceiling and pillars and frescoes on all the walls, (and trapdoors and gravestones in the floor) with a simple stone altar at the front. I couldn't get enough photos....

This winter we have had little snow and rain, especially here in Ticino, so unfortunately there was very little in terms of waterfall, and certainly not a double one. But the walk was pleasant, (almost too warm) and we got back just in time for the 16:21 bus back to Bellinzona.

From the bus stop on the main road, you get a view of both church buildings

Our plan is to have a look at all three historical buildings (on the brown sign). About 25 minutes to the bridge, and another 30 minutes back to the train station. 

The Church of San Carlo is an unusual structure, started in the late 1890's and never fully completed

Information about the Church of San Carlo.

The interior of the San Carlo building was quite unusual, and not to my taste. This is very modern, having been added to in the mid 1900's, although some of the artwork (carving, crucifix) are from the 17th Century. 

A look back at the Church of San Carlo as we head up the stone steps to the Romanesque building

A sign outside the church of Saint Peter and Paul describes the architecture and history of the building in excellent German, except someone didn't notice the wrong spelling of the city of BIASCA!!!! (A link to an English description is HERE).

This beautiful structure is from the 12th Century!! (Restorations took place in the mid 1900's)

An unusual slanted floor leads to the simple stone altar. The tiled ceiling is unusual as well. 

All of the pillars and walls were painted in detailed frescoes

Wall-to-ceiling paintings

Like going to an art museum, but better (no other people....)

Urs looking on the Internet to try to find the age of the building.

Entire walls of frescoes

Intricate artwork in the side bays

Ceiling details, and a balcony I had to check out

Above the main door, a balcony I had to check out

Heading up to the balcony

View of the altar from the balcony

A look at the pillars and side bays from above

From the front of the church, a panorama view over the city of Bellinzona, the Leventina Valley on the left, and the Blenio Valley on the right. 

Information about the Via Crucis

From the bus stop (having come from the Blenio Valley to the North), the trail past the two churches and to the bridge, then back to the train station, was about an hour

The "Way of the Cross" featured 14 such shrines with various artwork. On the way back we took the road below

The roman bridge over the Froda River, which leads to a pool (non-existent at this point) and two waterfalls (also non-existent)

This fellow was enjoying a glass of Champagne at the upper pool

Past the Santa Petronilla Falls, you get a bit of a view down into the valley

Oratory Santa Petronilla... it was locked and we couldn't see into the windows

Lovely mild weather for this hike, at places almost too hot! (Forecast was for 18 degrees).

Heading back across the bridge. Most of the city of Biasca is already in the shadow of the mountains to the west (3:45 p.m.)

That would be me on the bridge! And the city of Biasca below

The blooms on these bushes look like they might be from this year! Also, the view is up the Levetina Valley toward the Gotthard Pass to the north

This family was having fun with a "photo shoot". 

What a beautiful blooming bush! So nice to see some colour in the otherwise brown landscape

Heading down the cobblestone road back to San Carlo

A final look up at the "Chiesa dei Santi Pietro e Paolo"

The bridge and waterfall as seen from the level of the train station below. Usually there are two waterfalls crossing each other, and it looks pretty impressive. But there is too little water this winter. 

Location of Biasca in Switzerland